January 18 (Compass) — The government-controlled Holy Synod of the EritreanOrthodox Church last week served formal notice to Abune Antonios that he is nolonger the patriarchal head of the nation’s largest religious body. PatriarchAntonios immediately rejected the notice, announcing that he was excommunicatingor suspending those who signed his arbitrary dismissal order. Since last August,when the Eritrean government stripped Antonios of his ecclesiastical authorityand forbid him to administrate the affairs of the church, the patriarch hasremained under virtual house arrest at his residence in Asmara. Sourcesconfirmed to Compass that if the patriarch continues to challenge thegovernment-orchestrated takeover of his church, most people expect him to bearrested soon.